Bobi Wine supporter shot, killed in Gomba

GOMBA- A supporter of detained Kyaddondo East MP, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi alia Bobi Wine, has died after being shot by a riot police officer who was quelling protests in Gomba District.

The deceased, according to police, was among a group of people who were on Thursday protesting the re-arrest and detention of Bobi Wine who had been released by the army General Court Martial on Thursday.

Vicent Sserungaya, was a boda boda cyclist and resident of Lusenke-Bukalagi Trading Centre in Kanoni Town Council, Gomba District.
Gomba District is the ancestral home of Bobo Wine.

According to Mr Joseph Musana, the Katonga region police spokesman, Sserungaya was killed by a stray bullet when he resisted arrest.

“One of our men killed him when police was battling rioters on Thursday night. The protests began at around 7 pm and ended at 11 pm following reports that their old boy at Bukalagi, Bobi Wine was re-arrested by police shortly after the General Court Martial had set him free,” Mr Musana said.

“He was protesting with more than 10 boda-boda riders who are on the run but we will get them and prosecute them.”

He said the protesters used heavy logs, used car tyres and other plastic materials to set bonfires in the middle of Kanoni-Ssembabule Road, paralysing traffic.

“When he saw our policemen, he decided to run away and hid in his house. In the process of getting him out, he got an axe and a panga, tried to attack on of the arresting officers with intention of injuring him.

When our officer tried to rescue his life, he released a bullet that hit the attacker in the chest. Unfortunately, he died on the way to Gombe Hospital,” Mr Musana said.

He identified the suspected shooter identified as Sgt. Jonnie Ntibiramira who is attached to Kanoni Police Station.

The suspect, according to Mr Musana is detained at Mpigi Central Police Station pending investigations.

Police also arrested Mr Mike Musaazi, the son of the deceased. He is a Senior Two student in a local school.

“We arrested him because he was among the protestors. We shall not allow hooliganism and I caution the youth that if they want to demonstrate their dissatisfaction about the current regime, let them follow the laws,” Mr Musana said.

Mr John Bosco Ssonko, a resident told this reporter that the deceased, is survived by eight children and by the time of his death, he was living with five of them.

One of the children, Brenda Namugenyi, however, disputes the police narrative.

She said the officers raided the home and ordered their dad to get out of the house.

“They ordered him to open the door but he refused. When they told him that they were going to kill him, he surrendered and opened. One of them fired twice in the air and the third bullet caught him. That was the end of his life, Brenda Namugenyi, 12, said.

The other children who have been staying with their single father are; Mike Musaasizi 14, Charles Katongole, 9; Joseph Mutale, 7 and Jonah Muwayire, 3.

Mr Twaha Ssebandeke, the spokesperson of Gomba District Boda Boda Riders Association said the police force has so many unprofessional officers who are trigger happy and not well facilitated.

“Can you imagine some of them were hungry? This is why they started behaving like wild animals,” Mr. Ssebandeke, who is a crime preventer said.

Mr Godfrey Kiviiri, the district chairman condemned the brutality of police officers while handling rioters.

“How can you kill someone who has no gun?” he wondered.

The town was on Thursday under security lock-down, with many homes, shops and other businesses locked.

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